What’s Happening In Narelle’s World?
Dear Friends,
Welcome to my October newsletter! My apologies for running very late this month. I usually send my newsletter somewhere between the 10th and 18th of the month, depending on what's happening.
You may have heard that Amazon recently relaxed their rules for ebooks enrolled in Kindle Unlimited and they can now be distributed to public libraries. This is wonderful news for readers who prefer to read books they borrow from their local libraries and were previously blocked from accessing ebook titles in the Kindle Unlimited paid subscription ecosystem.
I've taken my three books in my Sydney Sweethearts series out of Kindle Unlimited. I'm now distributing them wide to the other retailers plus subscription services eg. Kobo Plus and libraries. Eventually I'll set up my own author store (a big job for later!).
On the weekend I started the wide distribution process and also added all of my ebooks for public library distribution. I'd thought I could set this up quickly and write my newsletter. Of course, that didn't happen and all of my spare time on the weekend was spent adding ebooks to Draft2Digital. I also learned how to edit an EPUB file to remove Amazon links that aren't allowed in EPUB files being distributed elsewhere. All my years of blogging and learning HTML coding came in handy for this task. I have a new appreciation for Vellum—the wonderful software I use for quick and easy book formatting.
I'm plugging along with my Read the Bible in a Year Challenge. My goal is to listen to the daily readings in The One Year Chronological Bible and the encouraging Daily Bible Podcast - Audio Bible Reading Plan episodes with Tricia Goyer and her friend Michelle. In recent days I've been listening to chapters from the Gospels.
My Christian contemporary romance novellas -- HIS PERFECT CATCH and THE BRIDESMAID'S HERO -- are FREE on Amazon Kindle for the next few days.
Direct Links to Amazon US store:
His Perfect Catch – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0115UXMIA/
The Bridesmaid’s Hero – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ANVIPFC/
Books2Read Links to all Amazon Stores:
His Perfect Catch – https://books2read.com/u/mYJQpM
The Bridesmaid’s Hero – https://books2read.com/u/brJevA
Fan Girling with Narelle
Visit the Podcast Page on my website for links to my podcast and YouTube episodes. Here are the links to my recent episodes.
Ep. 36 – Love Contemporary Romance: Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon
Ep. 35 – Love Regency Romance: Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham
Ep. 34 – Love Contemporary Romance: The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter
Ep. 33 – Love Contemporary Romance: A Winter of Sweet Secrets by Heidi McCahan
Ep. 32 – Love Romantic Suspense: Girl Lost by Kate Angelo
Book Recommendations
I’ve shared a few fiction book recommendations on my blog since I sent out my last newsletter.
Book Recommendation – Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham
Book Recommendation – The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter
Book Recommendation – A Winter of Sweet Secrets by Heidi McCahan
Book Recommendation – Last Chance Joey by Meredith Resce
Book Recommendation – Girl Lost by Kate Angelo
For those interested in learning about Christian fiction new releases, I also compile a monthly new releases post on my blog — Christian Fiction New Releases - October 2025.
I have a Friday weekly blog series showcasing books on preorder. Here are the links to my recent "Narelle's Preorder Roundup" blog posts:
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 10/17/25
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 10/10/25
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 10/3/25
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 9/26/25
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 9/19/25
Paperback Giveaway - Kate Landry Has a Plan or Alaskan Police Protector
My Christian contemporary romance selection is Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet that's set in New Orleans. Kate is a busy single parent who’s raising her young teen niece. They live above a bookshop cafe that Kate inherited from her grandmother. Micah’s back in New Orleans to help care for his father and he's temporarily working at the library. Micah was Kate’s first crush in seventh grade and their library meet cute is awkward and amusing. I recommend Kate Landry Has a Plan to contemporary romance readers who like midlife second chances romances set in New Orleans with family drama and relevant faith elements in the story. Read my book recommendation here:
https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-kate-landry-has-a-plan-by-rebekah-millet/
My alternative selection is Alaskan Police Protector by Australian author Megan Short from Love Inspired Suspense. Rachel has moved to Alaska to care for her orphaned six-year-old niece. Samuel works for the Alaskan PD and the story opens with Samuel witnessing a car hurtling off the road and becoming perilously close to falling into a lake. Rachel and Samuel’s meet cute is stressful and action packed. I recommend Alaskan Police Protector to romantic suspense readers who like short timeframe friends-to-more romances with danger, high octane suspense, forced proximity, and relevant faith elements that include forgiveness themes. Read my book recommendation here:
https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-alaskan-police-protector-by-megan-short/
The paperback giveaway is open to readers with USA and Australian mailing addresses who can receive paperback books from Amazon USA or Amazon Australia. The choice of book is subject to availability from Amazon.
I’m happy to substitute an ebook for readers who live outside USA and Australia, as long as they have digital access to ebooks at either Amazon USA or Amazon Australia and can redeem an Amazon gift card for the equivalent US or Australian ebook price at the US or Australian store.
To enter the giveaway, please reply to this email by OCTOBER 27, 2025 (USA Pacific West Coast Time Zone) and include your first name and the name of the country where you live and include the book title (Kate Landry Has a Plan or Alaskan Police Protector) that you'd like to win.
The winner will be contacted by OCTOBER 30, 2025 to arrange the delivery of their paperback book.
Our SEPTEMBER winner, Melissa H, chose The Summer of You or Me.
Questions for You
Do you like reading books set in real places? Have you visited New Orleans or Alaska?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and I will do my best to reply to your emails within 7 days. If I receive an undelivered email message, I’ll try again and send a second reply. If you don’t receive a reply from me, please let me know because emails can go astray. You can contact me via my website.
October Featured Author ~ Liwen Y. Ho
I'm happy to share that our FREE book this month is SECOND CHANCE SWEETHEARTS, a Christian contemporary romance from Liwen Y. Ho.
I'm a fan of Liwen's books and I have a few book recommendations on my blog including:
Tropical Kiss or Miss by Liwen Y. Ho
Retying the Knot by Liwen Y. Ho
SECOND CHANCE SWEETHEARTS is available as a FREE ebook download for her newsletter subscribers.
Claim your free ebook at the following link:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/k5u56y0riu
Final Thoughts
Thanks for journeying with me on my often crazy and challenging book publishing journey. If you’re a praying person, I’d love prayers that I won't get distracted and I will write new words on my first draft (the Chapel Cove Romance that I started in 2021 and need to finish). I have appreciated all your email replies, prayers, good thoughts, and support.
Blessings and love to you,
Narelle xo
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